Unipart Cambridge falls victim to administration with 27 job losses

Twenty-seven people are losing their jobs at Unipart Automotive in Cambridge following today’s announcement that administrators have been appointed by the nationwide company.

This makes Cambridge Unipart in Mercers Row, Fen Ditton, one of the largest operations in the country to be closed.

Unipart Automotive, headquartered in Solihull, is one of the UK’s biggest independent suppliers of car parts.

One of the joint administrators, Mark Orton of KPMG, said: “Our team will be supporting all staff on completing redundancy forms and putting them in touch with job seeker advice. We will now be reviewing what options are available for the remainder of the business, such as selling leasehold interests.”

John Neill, chairman and chief executive of the Unipart Group, said: “We are saddened by the Unipart Automotive situation and even though we sold control of this business years ago, we are concerned for the future of the employees.

“We have recently been able to work constructively and collaboratively with Andrew Page and are pleased that they have been able to save 33 branches and around 350 jobs.”

The Unipart Automotive distribution business, previously known as Partco, was sold by Unipart Group in 2011. Unipart Group retained a passive equity stake, and a condition of the sale was that Unipart Group exercised no control over the business.

Trade Union, Unite said: “This shock news is extremely concerning and will devastate the workforce. It is very disappointing the company has sought administration and not an alternative buyer. Administration plunges 1,224 workers and their families into immediate financial insecurity.

“We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the administrators to ensure that the interests of the workforce are top of their considerations.”